I've dug out a concrete hearth down to what looks like hardcore in the brick fender.Do i remove all the infill or leave, if removing will it weaken chimney wall, if I leave will it cause damp Going to be replacing two joist and lay floorboards over. Feel I've made job bigger and should have self levelled over the concrete ?
Concrete hearth
- Thread starter Borolass
- Start date
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The rubble will carry damp and is now not needed. Best to dig it out and clean out the void.
Damp rubble is often a source of damp in chimneybreasts as it has no DPC, and is quite a job to remove if it has been floored over and the wall plastered and decorated. Now is the best time.
In the old days it did not matter as daily fires kept it warm and helped it dry.
Exposing the brickwork will help any damp to evaporate off the surface and be ventilated away.
If fitting new joists, put DPC under them so they are not in contact with damp brick.
Damp rubble is often a source of damp in chimneybreasts as it has no DPC, and is quite a job to remove if it has been floored over and the wall plastered and decorated. Now is the best time.
In the old days it did not matter as daily fires kept it warm and helped it dry.
Exposing the brickwork will help any damp to evaporate off the surface and be ventilated away.
If fitting new joists, put DPC under them so they are not in contact with damp brick.
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The brickwork of the chimneybreast goes down to the foundations.
The rubble for the hearth will go down to subfloor level, and might be on earth or oversite concrete.
OP,
What does the "opening to the chimney" mean?
Hearths, fender walls, & fender wall infill have no bearing on the stability of chimney breasts.
Your fireplace appears to be blocked off but I dont see a vent for the flue?
Which two joists do you mean to replace?
What does the "opening to the chimney" mean?
Hearths, fender walls, & fender wall infill have no bearing on the stability of chimney breasts.
Your fireplace appears to be blocked off but I dont see a vent for the flue?
Which two joists do you mean to replace?
So whoever blocked it up previously have put some kind of hardcore then plastered over. The hearth infill is filled with the same. But when ive dug deeper, whatever was fill in where the fire would be started to move. The 2 joist will be braced onto original ones that were sawn in half ,so I can lay floorboards on top. Wished I'd left it alone now
OP,
I think I can see a rotten joist on the left hand side of the hearth?
Rotten timber has to be cut out - the rot could be the start of dry rot which would be very bad news for you.
You cannot pin new joists to rotten old joists. Presumably what you call bracing?
The fireplace - which has been blocked off, usually has a concrete back hearth which can also be removed just like the front hearth. Nothing will collapse.
I think I can see a rotten joist on the left hand side of the hearth?
Rotten timber has to be cut out - the rot could be the start of dry rot which would be very bad news for you.
You cannot pin new joists to rotten old joists. Presumably what you call bracing?
The fireplace - which has been blocked off, usually has a concrete back hearth which can also be removed just like the front hearth. Nothing will collapse.
Show us what you mean.
If you mean the rubble under the hearth is moving, it does not matter.
The chimneybreast and wall are built of brick, and the rubble thrown in afterwards to fill the space is not structural.
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